Eyes on the pies prize again

COMPETITION RETURNS FOR 13TH ANNIVERSARY

THE world-famous British Pie Awards are set to take place in Melton next week.

The awards, which had to be postponed earlier in the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, celebrate our nation’s love of pies. According to organisers, Brits eat around £1 billion worth of them every year.

Pies will be on parade for judging by the experts at St Mary’s Church, on Wednesday.

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the competition. In 2019, the event was dubbed “The Year of the Vegan” when, for the first time in the award’s history, a vegan pie was crowned Supreme Champion.

Last year saw a return to a classic combination with a top rump steak and Stilton pie named Supreme Champion.

The 23 classes include beef and ale, steak and kidney and dessert pies, and also cater to a growing variety of dietary preferences with Free From, vegetarian and vegan joining the ranks.

In fact, this year, out of the 750 pies entered, the Vegan Class is the most popular followed by beef and any flavour, geef and ale, vegetarian, chicken, and then pork pie.

Besides the usual national favourites, this year’s entries include exotic fillings such as Moroccan lamb and apricot, steak, haggis and peppercorn, pheasant, venison, bacon and black pudding. There is also a rhubarb and custard pie, with the custard inside the pie.

There are a few simple rules that must be adhered to by all the entrants. All pies must consist of a filling totally encased in pastry and baked. All entries must be commercially available in the UK.

Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to host the

British Pie Awards again in 2021. They were sorely missed earlier this year and it’s brilliant we’ve been able to organise their return. We have judged almost 10,000 pies since the awards were first founded in 2009. During that time the quality and range of pies submitted has increased significantly and our categories have expanded with this increased innovation.

“Each year, our panel of around 150 pie connoisseurs and culinary experts have the coveted task of judging entries from around the country, with many of the best pies going on to secure prestigious catering opportunities and national listings. This year’s judges include Xanthe Clay, food writer for The Daily Telegraph, who will be joining butchers and bakers and other pie aficionados from across the country.”

For 2021, the Supreme Champion “pie of pies” is being sponsored by American Pan UK, producers of industrial baking pans and coatings. Jordan Hughes, American Pan UK retail sales manager said: “The last 12 months have been a tough year for the industry, and it is great to get together and celebrate the high-quality pie makers we have in Britain.”

They were sorely missed earlier this year and it’s brilliant we’ve been able to organise their return

Matthew O’Callaghan